In order to understand the state of creative businesses, specifically in Northern Ireland, I looked into statistics about growth, prevalence etc.

Employment Growth in Northern Ireland's Creative Industries:

• Between 2019 and 2023, employment in Northern Ireland's creative industries increased by 32.5%, significantly outpacing the overall employment growth of 3.6% during the same period.
• Source: Department for Communities – Creative Industries Economic Estimates for Northern Ireland 2023. GOV.UK+5Department for Communities+5NI Business Info+5

Increase in Creative Business Sites:

• The number of creative business sites in Northern Ireland grew by 8.8% between 2019 and 2023, compared to a 4.7% increase across all sectors.
• Source: Department for Communities – Creative Industries Economic Estimates for Northern Ireland 2023.

Prevalence of Small Creative Enterprises:

• In 2020, there were 3,500 creative businesses in Northern Ireland, accounting for 3.8% of all business units. The number of creative enterprises increased by 2% compared with 2019.
• Source: NI Business Info – Creative Businesses and Employment in Northern Ireland. nireland.britishcouncil.org+2NI Business Info+2Official Publications Archive+2

Growth in External Sales and Exports:

• Between 2019 and 2023, the digital and creative sector was the fastest-growing sector for external sales and exports in Northern Ireland, increasing by 54% and 74%, respectively.
• Source: Invest Northern Ireland – Performance Report 2018–19 to 2022–23. Invest Northern Ireland

These statistics show the significant growth and the increasing importance of the creative industries in Northern Ireland, proving the need for dedicated platforms to support and enhance collaboration among creative professionals.